A man sought for nearly a year on bank fraud charges in connection with the theft of the identities of two Vermonters was arraigned Monday at U.S. District Court in Burlington.

Brian Wyer, 35, pleaded not guilty to using the identity of another person without permission and agreed to a government request that he remain in federal custody while awaiting trial.

Wyer was indicted in Vermont in June and was apprehended by U.S. Marshals in Illinois on March 24. According to court papers, he remains the subject of active arrest warrants in Ohio and Massachusetts, and has an extensive criminal record.

"Mr. Wyer has 26 prior felony convictions for fraud, theft and forgery," federal Magistrate John Conroy said during a discussion with Wyer's lawyer, Timothy Fair, about Wyer remaining in federal custody.

Wyer, asked by Conroy about his most recent job, answered "dishwasher." Later, Fair told a reporter outside the courtroom that his law firm had been retained as Wyer's private legal counsel.

According to court papers, Wyer allegedly obtained two Vermont non-driver's identification cards in the name of individuals who lived in Ohio and Kansas.

He then took the identification cards to Massachusetts and used the identities of two people to open bank accounts in the two men's, defrauding a bank of about $75,000.

Wyer, wearing green prison clothes, initially balked at responding to Conroy's questions about whether he understood why he was in court, saying he had not had time to speak to Fair, his lawyer.

Conroy ordered a 15-minute recess. When the hearing was reconvened, Wyer answered Conroy's questions and entered his not guilty plea.